An overweight grandmother cancelled a gastric band operation at the 11th hour because she was “petrified” it would go wrong following a family tragedy.

Instead, Susan Etheridge decided to lose weight the natural way by changing her diet, and has shed almost six stone over the past two years.

The mum-of-four had been offered the surgery, but could not shake off the fear because her young niece had tragically died from complications following the same procedure.

“I was petrified something would go wrong after what happened to my sister’s daughter up in Grantham a few years back,” said 56-year-old Susan, who lives in Spring Lane, Canterbury.

“The closer it got, the worse I became so the day before the operation, I phoned the doctors to cancel it.”

Now, she hopes her own story will inspire others to lose weight naturally.

At her heaviest, Susan had ballooned to more than 19 stone, which she admits had been through snacking on crisps and chocolate.

“When my dad died about 10 years ago I just stopped caring about myself and let things go,” she said.

She found herself becoming a full-time carer to her mum, Shirley, who has type two diabetes.

“I was petrified something would go wrong after what happened to my sister’s daughter up in Grantham a few years back...” - Susan Etheridge

But as Susan piled on the pounds, she too developed the condition.

“I watched as mum suffered complication after complication because of her diabetes which was robbing her of her life and it scared me,” she said. “I just knew I had to do something about my own health.”

Susan says she tried dieting but could not stick to it and eventually doctors told her the gastric band operation was the best option, but she would have to lose some weight first.

It was then she joined a Canterbury Weight Watchers group and was encouraged and supported to lose the pounds.

“I have done it gradually and just feel so much better for it,” she said.

“I have more respect for myself and take care of my appearance more, which is something I had almost given up on.”

Susan is now down to just over 13 stone and has gone from a size 24 to a size 16 and is still losing weight.

She continued: “I am also now free of diabetes which is a great relief and just enjoy life more, doing things like going for walks in the woods with my grandchildren.

“I never thought I could achieve it and I still have to be very strict with what I eat, but if I can do it, anyone can.”